So we're going to turn to chapter 3 in the book of Nehemiah, if you can.
Chapter 3, and we're going to start at verse 1.
Then Eliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brethren, the priests,
and they builded the sheep gate.
They sanctified it and set up the doors of it,
even unto the tower of Meah, they sanctified it unto the tower of Hananiel.
And next unto him builded the men of Jericho,
and next unto them builded Sekur, the son of Imri.
But the fish gate did the sons of Hassanah build,
who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof,
and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
And next unto them repaired Merimoth, the son of Uriah,
and the son of Koz.
Then next unto them repaired Meshulam, the son of Berichai,
the son of Meshez-Ebel.
And next unto them repaired Zadok, the son of Banna.
And next unto them the Ticoites repaired,
but their nobles put not their necks to the work of the Lord.
Moreover, the old gate repaired Jehudiah, the son of Passiah,
and Meshulam, the son of Besodiah.
They laid the beams thereof, and set the doors thereof,
and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
And next unto them repaired Melatiah, the Gibeonite,
and Jadon, the Maranathite,
and the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah,
unto the throne of the governor, on this side of the river.
And next unto them repaired Uziel, the son of Haraniah,
the goldsmiths.
And next unto him repaired Hananiah,
the son of one of the apothecaries.
They fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
And next unto them repaired Rephiah, the son of Hur,
the ruler of half part of Jerusalem.
And next unto them repaired Jedidiah, the son of Haruhmah,
even against his house.
And next unto him repaired Hattush,
the son of Hashib, Benaiah,
and Malchijah, the son of Hamron,
and Hashib, the son of Pathmoab,
repaired the other piece,
and to the tower of the furnaces.
And next unto him repaired Shalom,
the son of Halohesh,
the ruler of half part of Jerusalem,
he and his daughters.
The valley gate repaired Hanun,
and the inhabitants of Zenoa.
They built it, and set the doors thereof,
the locks thereof, and the bars thereof,
and a thousand cubits of the wall unto the dung gate.
And we're going to leave off the reading of our passage there.
Now I know what you're thinking.
What are we doing here?
What are we doing here in this portion of Nehemiah here?
And I will tell you that it has been my practice,
any opportunity that I've had to share God's word,
that I would not bring something to you,
and to try and teach you something,
if God first has not taught me.
So by way of encouragement,
I was looking to show you from God's word,
how all of God's word is a benefit to you.
And so many of you know this passage,
in 2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 16 and 17,
it says,
All scripture is God-breathed,
all scripture is God-breathed,
and is profitable for doctrine,
and reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished,
furnished unto all good works.
So that means even a list of workers at a construction site,
in God's word,
is going to be profitable to us.
And so we trust that the Holy Spirit will do his work,
and show us what he has for us today.
But as I was trying to attach this verse in 2 Timothy,
as an encouragement for you,
the Lord stopped me.
And for the better part of a week,
I was caused to contemplate the precious breath of God.
The precious breath of God.
I had an image in my head.
This is not from scripture.
This is at best sanctified imagination.
But I had an image in my head,
which I could not get out for nearly a week.
And I found myself,
at the end of my time,
standing before God in judgment,
seeing Jesus,
and running into his arms.
And I began to feel his breath.
His sweet, warm breath on me.
And all of the heartaches of this world.
All of the trials and sorrow.
All of the pain and suffering.
All of my fear and anxiety.
Begins to melt away.
And in his embrace,
sin and shame
and regret
no longer have any meaning.
And with his nail-pierced hands,
he's wiping away my tears.
You know, at the beginning of time,
the Bible says that God breathed into man
the breath of life.
And man became a living soul.
We just read in 2 Timothy
that God breathed scripture for us.
His holy word.
And we cannot forget,
with his dying breath,
he called out,
it is finished.
The precious breath of God.
There is a modern-day hymn.
It says,
Behold the man upon a cross,
my sin upon his shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice.
My mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there
until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.
I spent nearly a week of my time
preparing the rest of the message
that, Lord willing,
we'll get to here
because the Lord stopped me
to think about
the precious breath of God.
And I was reminded
that if I am striving today
to encourage you
with godly encouragement,
God says,
I must first encourage you.
Back towards Nehemiah.
Thank you for bearing with me
as we went through these names
this morning.
I wanted to encourage you all,
as I said before,
to dive into all of God's scripture.
How many of us hang out
in the Gospels,
Proverbs,
or Psalms,
hang out in Genesis?
How many of us
venture into Ezra
or Lamentations,
Deuteronomy,
or Leviticus?
Has anybody here read Hosea
or Zathaniah?
I think we still have at the back
these read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plans,
and I will tell you,
it is amazing
as you read through
some of these books
how all of a sudden
other parts of the Bible
begin to come to life.
We see here in Nehemiah
what appears to be
a list of workers
at a construction site.
For those of you
who are unfamiliar
with the story of Nehemiah,
he was a cupbearer
in a pagan king's hall.
The nation of Israel
were under captivity
at this time.
And God called him
because of Nehemiah's own heartache
for his people.
The city wall of Jerusalem
had been broken down.
And so God caused him
to have favor with the king
that he served as cupbearer to.
And the king sent him
with letters
to not only
provide him safe passage
back to Jerusalem,
but also to provide him
with the things he would need
to rebuild the wall.
And so we come to this portion here
where we begin to read.
That's not even the whole
list of names here.
And at first glance,
we may look at this
and say there's a list of names.
Well, actually,
I believe there's two lists here.
There's actually two lists here.
We have a list of many names.
And it talks about
their sons and their brothers
and their daughters building.
But then in verse 5 it says,
But their nobles put not
their necks
to the work of the Lord.
And so we actually
have two lists here.
We have a list of those
who did work
and a list of those
who did not work.
We have a list of those
who put their necks
to the work of the Lord
and a list of those
who did not.
So the first thing
I see here in Scripture
is actually God's
plea for salvation
for each and every one of us.
Do you know that
these names are in God's book here?
The Bible that He's given us.
But the Bible tells us
that there's another book somewhere.
It's called
The Book of Life.
And interestingly enough,
in that book
there's a list of names.
In that book
it lists the names
of those who have
cried out to Jesus
in faith
knowing
that His finished work
on the cross
is the only way
to salvation.
Knowing that
from Jesus' own mouth
He says,
None come to the Father
except by me.
And as I
contemplated
these
two lists
that were here
and the names
that were written
in the book here
I thought to myself
were all of our names
written in
the book of life?
It's very interesting
to note
as we look
at the second list
they are known
only as nobles.
God chose
not to even mention
their names
in Scripture.
Do you know
it will be the same
for you
when you see
God in judgment
if you have not
accepted Jesus
as your Lord
and Savior?
In Matthew
chapter 7
a very familiar
a very
to the point
cautious
point of Scripture
it says
Not everyone
that saith unto me
Lord, Lord
shall enter
into the kingdom
of heaven
but he that
doeth the will
of my Father
which is in heaven
many
how many
of you
sitting here today
will be among
that many
many will say
unto me
in that day
Lord, Lord
have we not
prophesied
in thy name
and in thy name
have cast out
devils
and in thy name
have done
many wonderful
works
and then
this is Jesus
I will
profess unto
them
I never
knew you
depart
from me
ye that
work in
equity
when you
stand before
the Lord
in judgment
will he
know your
name
or will
he be
nameless
like these
nobles
I think
it's very
interesting
to us
that we
know
that they
are nobles
because
how many
of us
how many
of the
people
that we
know
how many
people
in this
room
think that
their
position
in life
or their
goodness
in life
these are
nobles
of the
nation
of God's
chosen
people
are you
telling me
these
nobles
never went
to
the
synagogue
are you
telling me
these
nobles
never
celebrated
the
religious
ceremonies
and
did
works
did good
works
of course
they did
of course
they did
but just
like we
see here
in their
ear in
this
passage
their
names
are not
mentioned
this is
a very
solemn
warning
that we
do not
know what
tomorrow
may
bring
and the
day
when you
stand
in front
of the
Lord
it is
forever
and too
late
for you
to decide
I said
this the
last time
I spoke
I remember
speaking at
my great
aunt's
funeral
and I've
told this
story before
and my
grandfather
retired
preacher
asked me
to speak
I don't
know why
he did
that
it was
his
sister
and I
said
we don't
know
whether or
not
she's
saved
we actually
think she
probably
wasn't
saved
when she
passed
I'm like
what do
I say
what do
I say
to that
and he
said
you know
what you
say
now she
knows
without a
shadow
of a
doubt
that there
is a
God
when you
stand
before the
Lord
it is
forever
and too
late
you need
to decide
before that
time
happens
I wonder
if you
are here
today
and you
are similar
to these
nobles
in that
you are
a
respected
member
of the
community
maybe
a respected
regular
tender
of this
church
maybe
you're
a member
of this
church
but you
haven't
actually put
your faith
in Jesus
just as
these
nobles
did not
put their
necks to
the work
of the
Lord
to bend
their backs
over to
build this
wall
maybe
there
are
some
of you
that
have
not
bent
your
heart
yielded
your
soul
to the
Lord
Jesus
I heard
someone say
once
how much
do I
have to
hate
you
to
absolutely
despise
you
to not
tell
you
that
danger
is
coming
if I
was to
see you
walking
into
traffic
and
looking
down
the
road
not
seeing
traffic
come
this
way
how
much
would
I
have
to
hate
you
to
not
call
out
to
you
to
not
if
I
had
an
opportunity
run
and
grab
you
and
pull
you
out
of
traffic
how
much
more
that
we
don't
share
the
gospel
how
much
more
that
I'm
not
honest
with
you
today
we
see
here
in
many
parts
of
the
this
passage
here
we
saw
once
already
and
verse
10
it
says
that
he
built
against
his
house
we
see
also
in
other
places
in
verse
21
from
the
door
of
his
house
verse
23
their
house
built
by
their
house
verse
27
28
in
their
house
29
they
built
in
their
house
towards
their
house
many
preachers
I've
heard
preach
on
that
preach
on
the
fact
that
they
worked
on
the
house
worked
on
the
portion
of
the
wall
that
was
in
front
of
their
house
all
these
workers
came
but
they
worked
in
front
of
their
house
and
I
will
mention
some
things
on
that
but
I
think
the
interesting
thing
here
and
it's
by
example
I
think
most
predominantly
in
verse
12
it
says
and
next
unto
him
repaired
Shalom
the
son
of
Halohesh
the
ruler
of
half
part
of
Jerusalem
he
and
his
daughters
builded
the
wall
now
I'm
a sucker
being a
dad
to
girls
but
I
will
tell
you
that
you
cannot
strive
to
do
the
Lord's
work
outside
of
your
house
until
you
work
to
build
the
Lord
and
King
Jesus
inside
your
house
first
when
I
first
came
across
this
passage
I
was
struck
by the
way
that
Shalom's
daughters
brought
him
honor
they're
building a
wall
with bricks
and mortar
this
is
man's
work
this
is
hard
work
but
ultimately
in verse
five
it says
it's
the
work
of
the
Lord
what
kind
of
man
must
shall
have
been
inside
his
home
that
when
he said
I'm
going
outside
to do
the
Lord's
work
his
family
followed
his
daughters
followed
not
concerned
about
how
hard
it
would
be
not
concerned
what
others
would
think
about
doing
man's
work
quote
unquote
I
will
tell
you
Shalom
is a
man
that I
want
to be
like
what
do we
know
about
Shalom
we
know
who
his
dad
was
Hal
Ohesh
we
know
that
he
was
the
half
part
ruler
of
half
of
Jerusalem
and
we
know
that
he
had
daughters
but
by
reason
of
what
he
did
and
what
his
daughters
did
I
can
tell
you
that
he
loved
the
Lord
he
was
a
man
that
I
would
be
willing
to
follow
because
you
can
see
that
what
he
did
inside
his
home
led
to
how
he
behaved
outside
of
his
home
and
no
doubt
he
led
half
of
Jerusalem
well
my
daughters
have
brought
me
honor
not
because
they
strive
to do
the
things
that
make
me
happy
or
make
me
proud
although
they
do
them
but
because
they
strive
to do
what
God
wants
of
them
they
strive
to learn
more
about
God
strive
to
honor
God
with
their
actions
and
I
will
tell
you
that
the
Bible
says
that
those
who
honor
God
he
will
honor
how
many
of you
think
that
Shalom's
daughters
thought
when
they
walked
out
that
door
and
rolled
up
their
sleeves
and
started
making
brick
and
making
mortar
that
they
would
be
in
God's
word
for
all
time
oh
to
be
honored
of
God
just
as
they
stepped
outside
and
looked
at
this
broken
wall
so
we're
stepping
outside
into
a
broken
world
full
of
broken
hearts
and
broken
lives
broken
families
and
broken
relationships
lives
without
Christ
do
you know
that
we
cannot
fix
lives
we
can't
put
them
back
together
but
we
can
be
used
of
God
we
can
point
people
to
Christ
he
is
that
great
rock
that
blessed
cornerstone
that is
the head
of the
corner
on
which
broken
men
and
women
and
children
can
begin
to
rebuild
their
lives
would
we
not
roll
up
our
sleeves
and
be
used
of
God
to
rebuild
lives
and
to
point
people
to
Jesus
I
also
want
to
make
a
point
here
in
verse
five
we've
read
it
before
it
makes
it
very
clear
whose
work
this
is
it
is
the
work
of
the
Lord
it
is
the
Lord's
work
and
as
we
go
through
this
list
we
see
a
little
bit
into
what
it
means
to
serve
the
Lord
we
have
priests
and
we
have
goldsmiths
we
have
men
and
women
we
don't
have
any
ages
so
we
don't
know
if
we
have
young
and
old
probably
do
because
there's
generations
parents
and sons
parents
and
daughters
it is
about
the
Lord
it is
not
about
us
it is
about
the
Lord
it's
not
about
our
abilities
or
our
inabilities
when
God
asks
us
to
do
his
work
it's
not
about
us
it's
about
him
I
don't
know
how
many
of
you
remember
the
story
of
Naaman
the
great
commander
of the
army
but he
was a
leper
he had
leprosy
all over
his body
and he
went to
Elijah
the prophet
the great
man of
God
and he
came with
his
chariots
and
servants
Elijah
didn't
even
meet
him
Elijah
sent
out
a
servant
and
said
tell
him
that
God
says
go
wash
in
the
Jordan
seven
times
so
here
comes
Naaman
with
his
pomp
and
whatever
position
and
stature
he
thinks
he
has
to
see
the
great
man
of
God
to
be
healed
and
the
man
of
God
doesn't
even
go
out
to
see
him
now
this
is
all
orchestrated
by
God
in
heaven
how
this
all
plays
out
and
the
servant
says
my
master
tells
me
that
you
need
to
go
wash
in
the
Jordan
seven
times
and
you'll
be
healed
and
Naaman
doesn't
do it
Naaman
is like
mad
he's
like
I'm
Naaman
I'm
Naaman
you
want me
to go
wash
in
the
dirty
Jordan
river
seven
times
you
want
me
to
take
my
clothes
off
and my
armor
off
like
in front
of my
front
of my
my
subordinates
and hop
in the
water
here
and he
doesn't
do it
but
he
is
humbled
by
one
who
loves
him
because
one
of his
servants
comes
near
to him
2nd
Kings
5
verse
13
says
and
spake
unto him
and say
my
father
if the
prophet
had bid
thee
to do
some
great
thing
what's
thou
not
have
done
it
how
much
rather
than
when he
saith
to thee
wash
and be
clean
I
wonder
how
many
of us
if we
were handed
a microphone
in a
stadium
like Billy
Graham
would be
willing
to share
the gospel
share
your testimony
with somebody
or how
many
of us
through
ministry
of song
in front
of a
great
audience
would
sing
God's
praises
but we
won't even
give thanks
for our
meal
in the
lunchroom
at work
we
won't
even
speak
the name
of Jesus
around
our
neighbor
how
many
of us
if we
were
called
to do
a great
thing
for
God
would
do
it
but I
would
put
to you
today
by
example
of brick
and mortar
that
everything
God
calls you
to do
is a
great
thing
what
greater
thing
than to
point
someone
to
your
savior
do you
think
you're
not
equipped
to do
it
I
don't
know
if
Shalom's
daughters
had much
experience
in
masonry
I
don't
know
how much
the
goldsmith
had
experience
in
masonry
I
don't
know
how
much
the
soft
hands
of
the
cup
bearer
for
the
king
Nehemiah
himself
had
experience
in
masonry
but God
called
them
to do
it
and I
want to
make
clear
this
isn't
some
great
call
from
heaven
lightning
strikes
and
thunder
bolts
this
was a
righteous
cause
of
Christ
and
when
these
men
listed
here
and
these
sons
and
these
daughters
listed
here
heard
Nehemiah
say
let's
do
this
thing
for
the
Lord
he's
with
us
that's
enough
there
was
no
clouds
and
thunderstorm
on top
of
Mount
Sinai
no
pillars
of
smoke
or
fire
no
great
no
great
speech
from
a
prophet
how
many
of us
already
know
what
the
Lord
wants
us
to
do
and
we're
just
not
doing
it
how
many
of
you
think
it's
the
pastor's
job
to
talk
to
your
neighbor
about
Jesus
if
only
I
can
get
the
pastor
over
when
my
neighbor
is
out
gardening
then
we
can
start
the
conversation
how
many
think
you
know
you're
somebody
Shalom
was
the
half
ruler
of
Jerusalem
what's
he
doing
building
the
wall
men
women
sons
daughters
it's
the
Lord's
work
I
wonder
today
what
he's
been
calling
you
to
do
I
know
that
I
need
to
be
bold
I
know
that
I
need
to
be
not
ashamed
of
the
gospel
it's
very
easy
to
be
worried
about
what
people
will
think
it's
very
easy
to
be
worried
about
your
own
reputation
that's
why
if
Shalom
the
half
ruler
of
Jerusalem
can
take
off
of
his
ruler
garments
and roll
up his
sleeves
and do
the work
of the
Lord
so
can
I
and I
pray by
my
example
my
house
will
follow
I
believe
it was
Joshua
who
said
choose
this
day
who
you
will
serve
as
for
me
and my
house
we
will
serve
the
Lord
if
you
haven't
figured
out
already
I'm
a
very
emotional
guy
it's
who
I
am
I
can't
stop
it
is
it
just
is
who
I
am
who
God
has
made
me
to
be
and
I
will
tell
you
that
there
is
no
greater
joy
no
greater
feeling
than
when
you
have
finished
the
wall
when
you've
done
that
thing
that
God
has
called
you
to
do
and
you
walk
away
from
that
conversation
or
you
walk
away
from
that
visit
in
the
hospital
you
walk
away
from
sharing
your
testimony
with
a
perfect
stranger
oh
what a
feeling
it
is
it
is
it
is
like
the
well
done
the
good
pat
on
the
back
it
is
the
loving
embrace
of
God
I
would
encourage
you
all
to
think
today
and
I
don't
think
if
we're
honest
with
ourselves
we
have
to
think
very
far
what
work
of
the
Lord
has
God
been
asking
you
to
do
that
you've
been
finding
every
and
all
excuse
to
not
do
maybe
it's
a
little
thing
maybe
it's
a
little
way
that
God
wants
you
to
stand
up
for
Christ
as
you
go
about
your
days
maybe
it's
a
big
thing
maybe
someone
here
the
Lord
has
put
a
call
to
ministry
maybe
on
your
heart
and
you've
been
trying
to
ignore
it
trying
to
push
it
away
maybe
for
the
cause
of
Christ
you
have
been
withholding
forgiveness
so
for
the
cause
of
Christ
you
must
make
that
right
you
see
like
when
we
bind
up
things
on
earth
the
Bible
says
he
binds
up
things
in
heaven
we
can't
expect
to
have
good
fellowship
with
God
when
we
are
not
following
what
he
asks
us
to
do
to
offer
grace
and
mercy
and
forgiveness
it's
the
work
of
the
Lord
how
can
we
say
that
we
are
forgiven
if
we
don't
forgive
before
I
beat
this
horse
to
death
I
just
want
to
say
that
God's
word
on our
hearts
is a
work of
the
Lord
and
so
if
you
want
to
do
the
work
of
the
Lord
if
you
want
to
make
King
Jesus
the
king
of
your
house
the
king
of
your
home
the
king
of
your
family
you
must
let
the
Lord's
work
in
your
life
and
in
your
heart
you
can't
expect
to
give
godly
wisdom
if
you
yourself
have
not
received
the
wisdom
of
God
from
his
word
you
cannot
expect
to
give
godly
encouragement
if
you
yourself
have
not
been
encouraged
by
God's
word
and
you
can't
expect
to
share
the
living
gospel
with
someone
else
if
the
Holy
Spirit
does
not
live
within
you
they're
just
words
we
read
already
all
these
people
that
came
to
the
Lord
and
said
did
we
not
prophesy
in
your
name
did
we
not
do
all
these
things
all
scripture
is
God
breathed
and
is
given
for
inspiration
of
God
given
by
inspiration
of
God
and
is
profitable
for
doctrine
for
reproof
for
correction
and
instruction
in
righteousness
that
the
man
and
woman
of
God
may
be
perfect
thoroughly
furnished
unto
all
good
works
the
works
of
the
Lord
I've
been
encouraged
and
maybe
today
this
message
is
just
for
me
and
if
that's
the
case
thanks
for
listening
to
me
I
am
honored
by
my
daughters
as
they
seek
to
honor
the
Lord
just
before
we
close
up
here
today
I
just
want
to
say
that
we
are
pastors
going
to
come
here
and
read
some
scripture
but
we're
about
to
remember
the
work
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
I
talked
to
one
of
my
youngest
daughters
this
week
discussed
with her
about
communion
and
I'm
not
going
to
take
away
from
what
Pastor
Josh
is
going
to
say
but
I
just
wanted
to
say
that
this
is
a
time
that
we
remember
what
the
Lord
has
done
for
us
and
this
is
where
we
get
energized
but
this
is
not
a
mandatory
thing
for
every
Christian
for
every
time
it
comes
around
and
so
if
there's
something
that
is
not
right
and
needs
to
get
dealt
with
it
is
far
more
beneficial
to
the
cause
of
Christ
and
to
the
work
of
the
Lord
that
you
sort
that
out
first
before
we
take
time
to
remember
the
Lord
and
what
he
did
on
the
cross
for
us
I'll
leave
that
to
the
pastor
to
finish
up
here
to
what
the
one
t
is
more